Investiture honors Jessica Rutkoski as inaugural Siemer Milling Company Associate Professor of Wheat Breeding
Professor Jessica Rutkoski was formally invested as the inaugural Siemer Milling Company Associate Professor of Wheat Breeding in the Department of Crop Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign during a ceremony on Oct. 27, 2025.
The endowed professorship was made possible by a $1 million gift from Siemer Milling Company, a family- and employee-owned business based in Teutopolis, Illinois. The company’s investment establishes both The Siemer Milling Company Professorship and the Illinois Wheat Initiative, advancing Illinois’ leadership in wheat research, innovation, and industry collaboration.
An internationally recognized quantitative geneticist and plant breeder, Rutkoski applies advanced genetics and data science to improve the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of soft red winter wheat, the dominant class grown in Illinois and surrounding states. Her research integrates statistical modeling and economic analysis to identify high-performing wheat varieties that benefit both farmers and the environment.
As the leader of the Small Grains Improvement Lab, Rutkoski focuses on enhancing yield, disease resistance, maturity timing, and grain quality — traits essential to keeping wheat a viable part of Midwest agriculture. Her research bridges fundamental genetics with practical breeding applications, resulting in the development of new wheat lines licensed to seed companies each year. She is also developing value-added wheat varieties for high-value niche markets, including organic and locally produced artisan bread.
As the founding director of the Illinois Wheat Initiative, Rutkoski leads a collaborative effort that unites researchers, growers, millers, and food companies to strengthen the wheat industry through improved breeding, agronomic practices, and large-scale research partnerships. The initiative, supported by Siemer Milling Company, exemplifies the power of public-private collaboration to accelerate innovation and deliver real-world impact for the region’s agricultural economy.
“Wheat plays an important role in Illinois agriculture, and I want to ensure it remains both profitable for growers and sustainable for the environment,” Rutkoski said. “This professorship — and the partnership with Siemer Milling Company — creates an incredible opportunity to build momentum in wheat research, connect innovation directly to the field, and strengthen the entire value chain from grower to consumer.”
Rutkoski earned her bachelor’s degree in genetics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and her doctorate in plant breeding and genetics from Cornell University and has also worked with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. A recipient of the Women in Triticum Early Career Award from the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, she has published nearly 50 peer-reviewed articles and mentors the next generation of plant breeders through teaching and advising.
“Jessica’s research exemplifies the spirit of our land-grant mission,” said College of ACES Dean Germán Bollero. “Her ability to merge quantitative genetics with practical applications is helping farmers improve sustainability and profitability. Thanks to Siemer Milling Company’s extraordinary support, this partnership will continue to advance the science and success of wheat in Illinois.”
Bollero added that the collaboration between Illinois researchers and industry partners, such as Siemer Milling Company, demonstrates the strength of public-private partnerships in driving agricultural innovation.
“We’re delighted to be able to give back to the Illinois wheat growers who make our business possible,” said Richard C. Siemer, president of Siemer Milling Company. “Business has been good, and we look forward to partnering with the ACES wheat research team to make it even better for producers, processors, and consumers.”
About Siemer Milling Company
Siemer Milling Company has been producing flour from Illinois wheat since 1882, in the village of Teutopolis. The Siemer family has been involved with the business for that entire time. Good-quality wheat is essential to the success of a flour mill, while farmers need a crop that will yield a financially rewarding harvest. For those reasons, Siemer Milling has steadily increased its support of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign research efforts in breeding soft red winter wheat, the class predominantly grown in Illinois. In 2024, President Richard C. Siemer, following Board of Directors approval, committed $1 million over five years to the support of the breeding program — half going to endow this professorship and half to related wheat improvement efforts in the College of ACES.
Siemer Milling built a new mill at Teutopolis in 1979. It proceeded to build a second mill at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 1995. Then it built a third mill in West Harrison, Indiana, in 2015. All three facilities have been expanded over time. Siemer Milling now processes nearly 30 million bushels of soft red winter wheat annually, making it one of the leading soft wheat millers in the U.S. Soft wheat is primarily used to make foods such as crackers, cookies, batters & breadings, pancakes, and layer cakes. In recent years, Illinois has been the leading state in soft red winter wheat production; Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan also have significant production.
Richard Siemer is observing his 50th anniversary with the company this year. He is its 5th-generation family leader. He graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences in 1972 (his three siblings are also U. of I. alumni). He is also a proud member of the U. of I. Foundation’s President’s Council. The family’s 6th generation is well-established in the business’s governance and management, steadily assuming leadership roles. The Siemers expect wheat improvement — genetic and agronomic — to play a critical role in the future of their business.